Coin assorting and packaging machine



June 12, 1928,

R.' REID ET A1.

COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1922 5 Sheets-Shee /a @726521601 (j Eecal afa/raads ce tha,

une l2, 1928.

1,673,709. R. REID ET Al.

COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING 'MACHINE Filed April 14.1922 5 sheets-sheen 2 Arr/ Jun@ 12, 19128. L6739709 R. REID ET AL COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 14. w22 5 sheets-Sheet :s

June 12, 1928. 1,673,709

R. REID ET Al.

COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 12, 1928. l673,709

R. REID ET A1.

COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 stations.

vPatented June 1.2, 1928.

UNITED STATES ,1,673,709 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT REID AND ANDREW S. REID, OF BEVERLY, AND FRANCIS H. LEONARD, OI' SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, :BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LTD., 0F NORFOLK DOWNS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN ASSORTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE.

Application led April 14, 1922. Serial No. 552,743.

This invention relates to apparatus for assorting and packaging coins of a type that 1s operative automatically to segregate the coins of each denomination from a miscellaneous collection, and package thc assorted coins of each denomination with a predetermined and selective number of coins in each package, and with the number to a package different for the several denominations, if so desired. One principal object of the invention is to provide coin asserting means that is capable of rapid and reliable action to segregate the coins of each denomination by themselves, our improved means for this purpose consisting -in two stepped or generally tapered screws arranged on adjacent parallel axes with an opening between them diverging outward, and in conjunction therewith a platform in position to constitute a rest and slideway for the coins, as they drop .down between said screws, this platform being slotted at intervals for the delivery of the coins to the counting mechanism and then to the respective packaging A further object is to provide a hopper or coin holding pot equipped with carrier mechanism arranged to take up and deliver one coin at a time to a vertical chute, said chute equipped with co-operative means to handle one coin at a time and deposit the saine upon the inner or larger end of the two screws. A still further object is to provide improved counting mechanism operated by the successive coins in their path of discharge from the assorting screws to the packaging stations, whereby after the passage of a predetermined and selective number of coins of a given denomination the operating mechanism. is disengaged and the passage of the coins stopped until the mechanism is manually reset; this feature of the invention also comprises means whereby upon the passage of the predetermined number of coins, the counting mechanism is automatically reset. A still further important feature of the invention has to do with iInproved means for packaging the coins whereby the stack of coins to be discharged into a package are, preliminary to the packaging held in diagonal or oblique position in a discharging tube which is for this purpose made of a generally oval cross section whereby the package wrappers may be of a dimension to slip over these tubes but with the coins fitting closely and snugly the cross section of the Wrapper when they are righted therein. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the lnvention will more fully appear from the following detailed description'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the distinctive features of novelty will be Apointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevatlon of a machine embodying the invention with portions broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with the hopper or coin pot removed and with portions broken away;

Fig. 4 is a partial end elevation with portions broken away in vertical section showing the end of the machine to which driving impulse is applied;

Fig. 5 is a detail section lon line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation .showing a portion of one of the coin assorting screws;

Fig. 7 is an end view of one of the units of the counting mechanism with portions broken away and in section;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of one of the units of the counting mechanism from the opposite side to that of Figure 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial front view showing a part of the units of the counting mechanism, with a portion thereof broken away in vertical section;-

Fig. 10 is a partial front elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 10 of Figure 2 and shwing one of the packaging stations;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section on line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Fig. 12 is an end View of one of the counting units corresponding to Figure 7 but showing the operating parts in a diilerent position;

Fig. 13 is a partial end elevation of the end of the machine opposite that of Figure 4, and showing particularly certain of the gear connections;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section on line 14-14 of Figure 7;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of one of the coin discharging tubes with a wrapper fitted thereon;

Fig. 15a is a transverse section thereof;

Fig. 16 is a partial longitudinal section of one of the coin wrappers with coins therein;

Fig. 16a is a transverse section of such coin wrapper, and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail elevation.

The framework 1 of the machine is equipped at one end with an upright 2 which constitutes a vertical coin chute as presently described and yat the top of this upright a hopper or coin pot 3 is mounted in sloping position, preferably at an angle of about forty-five degrees as shown. The main portion of this hopper comprises a shallow circular pan 3 with an upturned peripheral flange 3b of suicient height to retain the coins therein, and this hopper portion has secured at its bottom a forward and upwardly extending plate or wall 3c fashioned in a scoop shape to constitute in conjunction with the sloping pan portion a pot or container capable of holding a substantial quantity of coins. The sloping pan portion has fitted to turn in the bottom thereof, a disc plate 4 which for this purpose is fixed at the upper end of a short shaft 5 journalled in a bracket mounting 6 borne by the upright 2. The disc 4 is formed with a series of part-circular cut out recesses 4 at intervals in its periphery of a dimension to receive a single coin only within the range of sizes of coins for which 85 the apparatus is intended. A spring strip 7 is secured to the rim 3b of the hopper pan at the side thereof where the disc 4 turns in an upward direction, i. e. at the right as shown in Figure 2, this spring strip having an inturned extremity extending directly over a substantial portion of the recesses 4 and serving as a buffer and director engaging the coins as they are brought upward by the turning plate and agitating them so as to insure the successive filling of the recesses 4 with a single coin in each while brushing back the surplus coins brought up by the plate. The upright 2 is provided with a vertical slot 8 which constitutes a chute for the passage downward of the coins, this chute opening into the pan 3 in a direction generally radial of the pan at the side thereof where the disc 4 is moving downward, i. e. at the left as shown in Figure 2. A pin 9 is pivoted to turn in the pan rim 3b with a curved down turned extremity 9u constituting a finger extending into the pan `and pressing upon the disc 4 just in front of the o ening of chute 8 thereinto. This pin has xed to an outer end thereof outside of the pan a short arm 9b which is engaged by a tension spring 9c anchored to the pan and serving to hold the finger 9 pressed yieldingly against the surface of the disc 4, this finger serving to press the coins out of the recesses 4a and insure their dropping into the slot of the chute 8 as they come into register therewith. A stop pin 9d maybe provided to prevent the finger 9 moving too far into the recesses 4 when it is located thereover. The chute 8 is of a depth or thickness to permit the dropping down therethrough of a single coin only, and means is provided to insure the regular and uniform delivery of the coins downward through this chute. For this purpose an intermediate portion of the chute is widened at two places as indicated at 8, 8* respectively, and in these widened portions pairs of co-operative half-circular plate members 10, 11 are mounted to turn in timed relation so as each to receive a coin between them in one part of their rotation and to deliver it downward in their continuing rotary movement, the upper pair 10 of these members being in coinreceiving position while the lower pair 11 are in coin-discharging position and vice versa, and as best shown in Figure 2; these members thus constituting an escapement device for the regular feeding of the coins to the assorting and distributing mechanism to be now described. This assorting and distributing mechanism comprises two screws 12, 13 of a dimension so that the threads thereof are adapted to receive between them any coins of the range for which the apparatus is intended. These screws are journailed in the framework on parallel axes 12, 13 respectively, and they are each of tapering form with the bases of the threads thereof progressively stepped downward, i. e. to a less diameter outward from the coin receiving end as indicated at 14. These screws are spaced apart a distance such that at the larger ends thereof the distance between the bases of the threads is too small to permit the smallest coin for ywhich the apparatus is intended to drop down between the screws, while at the smaller ends of the screws the bases of the threads thereof are spaced far enough apart so as to permit thelargest coin for which the apparatus is intended to drop therethrough. One of the screw axes, e. g. the axis 13 may be employed as the prime drive shaft of the machine, having for this purpose a shaft extension 13b at the front end of the framework equipped with driving means shown as a crank handle 15, though this is merely illustrative, and other driving means either manual or power actuated may be employed; there being preferably however between such driving means whether in the form of the crank 15 or otherwise and the shaft end 13", a throw-out or automatic disconnecting clutch to be presently further described. The two screws are geared together at the inner or larger ends thereof by meshing gears 16 secured on the respective shaft extremities. The escapement members 10, 1l in the chute are also actuated from this end of the screw shafts by means of a pinion 17 secured to the screw shaft 12a which meshes with a pinion 18 fixed on the end of a short shaft 19 which bears one of the plates 11. The shaft 19 of the \other plate 11 is driven from the shaft 19 by pinions 20, while the shafts 21, 2la which\bear the upper escapement members 10 are reversely driven by meshing pinions 22, one of which is also in mesh with one of the pinions 20. For rotating the disc plate 4, the shaft 5 thereof is connected through a pair of miter gears 23 with a -shaft 24 horizontally journalled in the frame and having keyedthereon a gear 25 which is driven througlr an intermediate pinion 26 from a gear 27 fixed on the screw shaft 13. Thus the escapement members 10, 11, and the disc plate 4 are rotated in timed relation and at a proper ratio with respect to the rate of rotation of the screws. The vertical chute 8 leads downward to a point directly over the grooves between the threads at the extremities of the larger ends of the screws 12, 13 so as to deliver the coins into operative relation with the screws to be moved endwise thereby. A platform or slideway 28 is disposed directly under the space between the screws and extends the length thereof, this platform having slots 29 at intervals therein leading downward to discharge openings 29a at one side of the machine todischarge bad coins, i. e. those that do not come within a predetermined dimension range while between these slots are a series of other slots 30 which direct the good coins to be packaged to the counting and packaging mechanisms to be described. The cores of the two screws, which constitute the bottoms of the threads thereof, and the major portions of which are stepped downward outward of the screws as already described, also have the portions thereof adjacent the large end of the screws tapered downward or inward as indicated at 31. and an upwardly tapering plate 32 is set vertically between the screws adjacent the larger extremities thereof in position so that as the coins drop down the chute, they are first permitted to drop fully downward between the screws by reason of the tapered portion of the cores 31 thereof, and are then brought gradually upward as they Vride up on the tapered plate 32 until they rest upon the largest diameter of the screw cores. The first of the discard or bad'coin slots 29a is located adjacent this portion of the screws and any coins that are under the minimum allowable dimension of the smallest coin for which the machine is designed, e. g. dimes, will at this time be permitted to pass down between the cores of the two` screws' to drop n into this slot and be discharged as 4soon as.

it comes into register therewith. As the coins are advanced longitudinally by the movement of the screws the smallest denomination of coins, e. g. dimes, upon reaching that ortion of the screws where the cores are p aced far enough apart to permit it, drop down between the screws so that their lower edges rest upon the platform 28. This platform is preferably concaved as best shown in Figures 7 and 8 so as to aid in keeping the coins alined for their longitudinal sliding movement thereon. The first of the good coin slots 30 is located a small distance in advance of the point where the smallest coin denomination thus drops down to rest on the platform, and is hence in position to receive all of the coins of this denomination as soon as they come into register therewith. The next of the bad coin slots 29 is located in the platform at a point a small distance back of the position where the good coins, i. e. of a predetermined minimum diameter of the next denomination such as cents would drop down between the screws on to the platform and hence this slot 29 is adapted to discharge all worn or otherwise imprefect cents coins that are less than the coin minimum diameter. As the coins are fed forward by the screws, the good coins of the cents denomination first slip down between the screws to rest on the platform and then after sliding thereon a small distance drop into the next one of the good coin slots 30. This operation is repeated for the coins of other denominations which upon reaching a predetermined point in the length of the screws are by the progressive stepping down of the screw cores described, first permitted to drop down so as to b`e slid on the platform, and then to drop into the designated slot provided for coins of that denomination, the imperfect or small diameter coins of each denomination being first sorted out to be discharged through the bad coin slots as already described. Thus each of the slots 30 constitutes a conduit to which the coins of a given denomination are selectively supplied. and through which they are delivered to the counting and packaging mechanism to be now described. This counting and packaging mechanism comprises a series of units, each substantiallv complete in itself for handling the coins of a particular denomination` all of these units being alike passed through lugs in theabutting faces of adjacent units to constitute a continuous coin handling case disposed directly beneath the asserting screws.` As herein shown the'platform 28 is composed of sectional portions which are respectively formed with these units, though this is optional, and the platform may be produced as a separate continuous bar or plate secured at the top of the sectional coin handling case thus constituted. The several units 33 have an axial bore therethrough which constitutes a bearing for a shaft 35 that extends completely through the coin handling case. This shaft is driven by gear 36 fixed on a projecting end thereof through an intermediate pinion 37 from a gear 38 fixed on the screw shaft 13b. Each of the units 33 is recessed on one face thereof as indicated at 39 to provide a channel for the passage of the coin, the depth of this recess being such that as the plane face of the adjacent unit is clamped thereagainst, the channel thus provided will be of a depth to permit the free movement therein of a coin of the denomination for which that unit is intended. The coin slot 30 for each unit opens downward into this channel 39 and a disc 40 is keyed to the shaft 35 in each of these channels to fill the central part thereof and thus convert the channels 39 into annular passage ways for the coins. The disc 40 is provided with a single radial tooth 41 which is adapted to engage the coin C as it drops down through the slot 30 into the channel 39 and move the coin in said channel through somewhat more than half the extent of the channel as shown, until it reaches a discharge passage 42, which extends diagonally downward at the front of the machine. A fixed pin 43 extends into the channel adjacent the forward side of said passage in position to engage the coin and stop its further movement in said channel, causing the coin to be diverted downward through the passage 42. This pin 43 is located far enough outward in the channel so that the tooth 41 clears the same in its movement` said tooth being for this purpose relatively short. A short arm 44 is pivoted on a pin 45 in an extension of the casing in position so that a cam face 44a at the outer extremity thereof projects into the channel sufficiently to be engaged and rocked by the coin as it is moved past the same, this rocking movement being against a small compression spring 46 housed in the casing. The arm 44 is provided adjacent its outer end with a short pin 47 which extends into a slot 48a in the outer tail portion of a pawl 48 which is pivoted at 49 to another short arm 50, which is mounted on the pivot pin 45 alongside the arm 44. This arm 50 1s also engaged by a compression spring 51 housed in the casing. The housing extension in which these arms 44 and 50 is mounted provides a stop wall limiting the return movement of the arms 44, 50 respectively, so that these arms have only a range of movement within the required compass. The awl 48 is adapted to engage a ratchet w eel 52,

which is mounted to turn on a bearing hub 53 provided interiorly of the casing unit. With this construction it may be understood that as the arm 44 is rocked by the passage of a coin as described, the pin 47 thereon engaging the tail of the pawl 48 will first swing the pawl so as to engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 52, and then the linal movement of the arm 44 will more the pawl and the arm 50 therewith to advance the ratchet wheel a single tooth, the described connections being shown proportioned as to reduce the movement imparted to thc arm 44 bythe initial swinging of the pawl 48 to just thc extent required for such single tooth movement of the ratchet. wheel. The ratchet wheel 52 has fixed to the inner face thereof a disc 54 which also turns on the. hub 53 and is equipped at spaced apart points in its circumference with lugs 55, 55n the different ones of which project radially outward different distances for a purpose to be presently explained. The ratchet wheel 52 and the disc 54 which as explained are rigidly connected and moved together, are under the action of a coil spring 56 which is engaged at one end therewith as indicated at 57 and is anchored at its other' end to the housing as indicated at 58, this spring tending constantly to turn the disc and ratchet wheel backward, i. e. in a reverse clockwise direction as seen in Figures 7 and 12. A fixed pin 59 is borne by the housing in position to engage with the longer one 55a of the lugs to constitute a stop limiting this backward movement of the ratchet wheel and 'normally holding said lug against said stop to determine the starting position of the ratchet wheel in its forward movement for counting the coins as now to be described. A dog 60 pivoted to the housing at 61 is normally drawn by a tension spring 62 to cause the beak thereof to engage the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel 52 to hold the ratchet wheel against backward movement when the pawl 48 is disengaged therefrom which occurs upon the return movement of the arm 44 when the pin 47 first acts to swing the pawl 48 positively out of engagement with the ratchet teeth as seen in Figure 7. A bar 63 is mounted to slide horizontally in the upper portion of each of the casing units 33, the series of bars thus provided having proj ections 63 extending from the casing at one side thereof to actuate a throw-out mechanism to be presently described. This bar is equipped with a ledge 63b adapt( I ii one position to engage a projection "0 of the dog 60 to lift said dog out of' engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 52 and thus permit the ratchet wheel to return to starting position under the action of the spring 56. Atension s ring 64 anchored to the housing is engage with the bar 63 and tends constantly to draw it to the left as shown in Figures 7 and 12, in which position the dog 60 is permitted to engage the ratchet teeth. The end 63c of this'bar engages a pin 65 mounted to turn in the housing with one sidethereof cut away as indicated at 65a so that when the pin is turned with this flat side parallel with the bar, the bar is permitted to slide thereover to release the dog 60, while when the round portion of this pin is turned against the end of the bar, it serves as a stop to hold the bar 63 in a position shown in Figure 7 with the dog retracted. The pin 65 bears at a lower projecting end thereof a bell crank member, one arm 66 whereof serves as a handle `to turn the pin, while the other arm 66:L thereof is engaged by a spring pressed pin 67 which Itends constantly to turn the pin so that its rounded surface will be presented to the end of the bar. The bar 63 bears a pin 68 in position to be engaged by one or another of the lugs 55, 55a when the ratchet wheel ha-s been moved far enough to bring such lug or projection against said pin, the pin 68 being adjustable as now to be explained to different distances outward from the disc 54, so that in one position of said pin the one 55 of the lugs which is the shorter will engage the pin, while in a position of adjustment farther outward the first lower lug 55 clears under .the pin which is then not actuated until a longer one 55a of the lugs is moved thereagainst. For thus adjusting the pin 68, the bar 63 has a limited swinging movement from one end portion thereof upon a fulcrum 69 provided by the housing, and its other end portion has an elongated slot 70 engaged by a pin 71 eccentrically carried by a head 7 2 tted to turn in the housing, this head having a stem 73 extending outward therefrom with a handpiece 74. A compression spring 75 -is housed behind the head 72 and exerts pressure so that a lug 7 4 borne by the handpiece 74 is held in engagement with one or another of sockets 76 which determine the adjusted position of the pin 71, while permitting the head 72 to be turned upon drawing the handpiece 74 slightly outward to disengage the lug 74a from its socket. It may now be understood that to set the mechanism for operation, the handle 66 will be turned against the action of the spring pressed member 67, so that the fiat face 65a of the pin 65 will be presented to permit the bar 63 to slide thereover under the action of .the spring 64 which will result in releasing the dog 60. At this time the ratchet wheel is in starting position with the lug 55a held against the pin 59 under the action of the spring 56. Thereupon as the coins of the denomination for which the unit is designed are segregated and drop down through the slot 3() under the action of the screws as described,vthe successive coins are movedY through the channel 39 under the action ofthe tooth 41 borne by the continuously rotating shaft 35. As each coin engages the cam face 44a of the arm 44, this arm is rocked, and through the described connections causes the pawl 48 to advance the ratchet wheel 52 the distance of a. single tooth for each coin. The lugs 55, 55 are so located with respect to this starting position of the ratchet wheel that the shorter advanced one of said lugs will engage the pin 68 after a predetermined number of coins have been delivered, while with the pin 68 in another outer position of adjustment it will be engaged by another lug 55a after a predetermined greater number of.coins have been delivered. It is here to be understood that the mechanism in the several units of the casing will be adapted for the handling of the particular coins for which that unit is designed; thus in the unit handling pennies, the ratchet wheel with its operative mechanism, and the lugs engaging the pin 68 will usually be arranged so that the bar 63 will be actuated after a larger number e. g. fifty or one hundred pennies have been delivered, while for dimes or quarter dollars the mechanism will usually be arranged to actuate the bar 63 after the passage of a definite but small number of coins. In each case as the bar 63 is thus shifted by the engagement of the pin 68 as described, as soon as the end 63c of the bar passes out of the range of the pin 65, said pin is turned by the yspring member 67 to the position shown in Figure 14, where it acts as a stop to hold the bar to the right as seen in Figure 7, this movement of the bar retracting the dog 60, permitting the ratchet wheel to be reset by the spring 56, and holding the dog retracted until the handle 66 is again moved to permit resetting of the bar 63 under the action of thespring 64. As already stated the bar 63 for each of the counting units as described,

has a projection 63a extending outward at` the back of the housing and adapted to actuate a knock-out Eor power disconnecting mechanism to be now described. This series of bar projections 63a are in osition so that when any one of the bars 6 is moved outward after the passageof the predetermined number of coins through that unit as described, it will engage anl arm 77 fixed on a rockshaft 78 extending at the back of the housing, this rockshaft 78 being therefore rocked when any one of the bars 63 is pressed outward as described. This shaft 7 8 extends to the front end of the machine where it has fixed thereon a short upwardly extending arm 79 bearing an outwardly extending lug 79a in position to be engaged by a ledge projection 8()a borne at the periphery ofl a disc 80. This disc 80 is frictionally held between the gear 38, which is keyed on the shaft 13b as already described, and an outer disc plate 15a loosely mounted on the end of the shaft 13", this plate being formed in one with the operating handle 15, and typifying the element to which power for actuating the machine is imparted. This plate 15a has formed therewith a short hub 15b equipped with a ledge 15 arranged to engage a spring pressed dog 83 pivoted at 84 to the gear 38, the engagement thus e'ected constituting a clutch for driving the gear 38 and hence the mechanism of the machine from the handle 15. The intermediate disc 8O has a cut-out portion 8()Il affording clearance for the movement of the dog 83 and at its side thereof adjacent the free end of said dog it is formed with a cam edge 8Oh in position to engage a beveled extremity of the dog and lift it outward to inoperative position when the dog is pressed thereagainst. This occurs when the shaft 78 is rocked as described to bring the projection 7 9 into the path of the ledge 80a which thus stops the disc 80, so that as soon as the dog 83 reaches a position where it engages the cam edge 80b it will be pres-sed outward and the machine thus disconnected from its driving element 15.

Each of the discharge passages 42 has a packaging mechanism associated therewith. These packaging mechanisms may all be mounted to extend diagonally downward and forward on a support 85 of the framework. The packaging mechanism is the same at each of the stations except for the difference in dimension required for the different sizes of coins. At each station a tube 86 is mounted with its upper end connecting with the passage 42 and with its lower end 86a projecting downward in position to have a paper Wrapper slipped thereover. These tubes are generally oval in cross section as best seen in Figure 15, and the upper portions thereof have their tops cut away as indicated at 87 to constitute slots of substantial width. Glass plates 88 are fitted in place over these slots so that the coins in the tubes may be observed through these slots. Below this slotted portion of the tubes they are provided with stop blocks 89, which extend diagonally into the tubes. These blocks are mounted upon stems 90 fitted to turn in bearings of the frame and having operating handles 91. The stems 90 are engaged by coil springs 92 which hold the blocks 89 yieldingly in place to constitute abutments for the coins to lodge against as they accumulate in the tubes, the sides of the tubes being cut away adjacent these blocks to afford clearance for the movement thereof as indicated at 86". The coins C as they are discharged through the passages 42 are thus directed by the sides of the slot 87 to roll downward in the tube and arrange themselves in a diagonal pile against the block 89, the engagement of the coins with the sides of the slot serving to keep them approximately vertical. The oval cross section of the tubes 86 including the lower portions 86 thereof is such as to permit the pile of coins to slide freely therethrough preserving the diagonal pile arrangement and preventing them from righting in the tube, i. e. from disposing themselves straight transversely thereof. In other words the circumference of the inside of the oval tube is less than the circumference of the coin. The paper wrappers W into which the coins are received are of a size to slip over the ends 86 of the tubes and atthe same time of a dimension so that when the coins are discharged into the wrapper and righted as indicated at C they fully fill the cross section of the wrapper. Thus by reason of the oval cross section of the tubes 86, the coins may be discharged therethrough in a diagonal pile and in a manner so that they will fully lill and snugly lit the walls of the wrappers which are adapted to be slipped over the tubes. ln other words the peripheral measurement of the outside of the tubes is substantially the same as the peripheral measurement of the coins. The operation of the several parts of the mechanism having been described in connection with the description of the construction of these parts, the manner of working the machine as a whole will be understood without further detailing. While the described mechanism is particularly adapted and designed for the asserting, countin r, and packaging of coins, it is also adapte for assorting, and if desired counting and packaging, other articles having a form more or less similar to coins, and hence where the term coins is used in the foregoing specification and in the appended claims it is to be understood as illustrative and typifying any articles of more or less similar nature adapted to be handled by the machine as described. lVe are aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the kind described coinprising a hopper, coin'assorting mechanism, a chute delivering thc coins from the hopper to said mechanism, and positively driven means in said chute for handling one coin at a time and delivering the same to the assorting mechanism, said means consisting in pairs of rotating members with one side thereof cut away.

2. A. machine of the kind described comprisinlar mechanism for asserting coins and delivering the coins of each denomination to a separate discharge passage, and a discharge tube applied to each of said assages constructed and arranged to guide t e coins vertically downward and then to arrange them in a stack in diagonal relation.

3. A machine of t-he kind described comprising mechanism for asserting coins and delivering the coins of each denomination to a separate discharge passage, and a discharge tube applied to each or' said passages constructed and arranged to guide the coins vertically downward and then to arrange them in a stack in diagonal relation, each of said tubes having a gate normally extending diagonally therein as an abutment for the coin stack but movable to permit discharge of the stack of coins.

4. The combination with mechanism for assorting coins and for delivering the coins of each denomination at a-separate st-ation of discharge tubes'located at each of said stations, each of said tubes having an oval cross section of a dimension to permit the stacking of the coins therein in diagonal relation, each of said tubes having a gate to control the discharge of the coins.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a discharge tube of curved non-circular cross section, whereby coins or the like of a given dimension are held therein in diagonal stacked relation, and whereby a wrapper of a dimension to be completely filled out by such coins may be slipped over said tube.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a discharge tube mounted to extend diagonally downward with a slot in the top side of its upper portion adapted to guide coins vertically downward therein, the lower portion of said tube having a generally oval cross section of a size to hold coins of a given dimension stacked therein in diagonal relation, whereby a wrapper adapted to be completely filled out by the coins when righted therein, may be slipped over said tube.

7. In a coin sorting machine, in combination, a pair of coin supporting screws ar,

ranged to provide diverging space between them, and provided with threads capable of maintaining a row of coins edgewise with relation to the axes of the screws and vwith portions of the edge of each coin engaged by a thread of each screw, means for rotating the screws to advance the row of coins supported thereby, the space between the screws 'li-ing such as to permit a row of supported coins to be moved by the screws from the converging toward the diverging end thereof, and to permit different denominations of the coins t` passbetween the screws at different points along the length of the screws, means for selecting successive coins from a mass of indiscriminately mixed coins and for depositing successive coins selected from the mass, edgewise between the threads of the screws at the converging end portion thereof, and receiving devices arranged with respect to the screws to receive the denominations of coins sorted by the screws.

8.` In a coin sorting machine, in combination, coin sorting means comprising a pair of coin supporting screws arranged to provide diverging space between them, and provided with threads capable of maintaining Aa row of coins edgewise with relation to the axes of the screws and with portions of the edge of each coin engaged by a thread oi each screw, means for rotating the screws to advance the row of coins supported thereby, the space between the screws being suchv as to permit a row of supported coins to be moved by the screws from the converging toward the diverging end thereof, and to permit different denominations of the coins to pass between the screws at different points along the length of the screws, and means for depositing successive coins edgewise between the threads of the screws at the converging end portion thereof, and receiving devices arranged with respect to the screws to receive the denominations of coins sorted by the screws. 4

9. In a coin sorting machine, in combination, two coin supporting members arranged to provide a diverging space between them, one of said members being provided with threads capable of maintaining coins edgewise with relation to the' axes of said members and with portions of the edge of each coin engaged by said threads, means for rotating the threaded member to advance the row of coins supported by said members, the space between said members being such as to permit a row of supported coins to be moved from the converging to the diverging ends of the members and to permit different denominations of the coins to pass between said members at different points along the length of the members, means for selecting successive coins from a mass of indiscriminately mixed coins and for depositing successive coins selected from the mass edgewise between the threads of said threaded member and near the converging` end portions of said members, and-re ce1ving devices arranged with respect to said members to receive the coins sorted thereby.

l0. In a coin .sorting machine, in combination, coin sorting ,means comprising two coin supporting members arranged to provide a diverging space between them, one of said members being provided with threads capable of maintaining coins edgewise with relation tothe axes of said members and with portions of the edge of each com engaged by said threads, means for rotatingI the threaded member to advance the row of coins supported by said members,the space between said members being such as to permit a row of supported coins to be moved from the converging to the diverging ends of the members and to permit different denominations of the coins to pass between said melnbers at different points along the length of the members, and means for depositing successive coins edgewise between the threads of said threaded member and near the converging end portions of said members, and receiving devices arranged with respect to said members to receive the coins sorted thereby.

l1. In a coin sorting machine, in combinanation, coin sorting means comprising a pair ot screws arranged to provide a diverging space between them and provided with threads capable of lnaintaining coins edgewise with relation to the axes of the screws and with portions of the edge of each coin engaged by the threads of each screw, means ior rotating the screws to advance the row of coins Supported thereby, the space between the screws being such as to permit different denominations of the coins to pass between the screws at ditferent zones in the length thereof, a supporting member adapted to engage the edges of the coins thus passing between the screws and to support them on edge while being moved by the screws, and a plurality of openings in said supporting member, one for each denomination ot' coin to be sorted, and means for depositing successive coins selected from a mass edgewise between the threads of the screws at the converging end portions thereof.

12. In a coin sorting machine, in combination, a pair of coin supporting screws arranged to provide diverging space between them, and provided with threads capable of maintaining a row of coins edgewise with relation to the axes of the screws and with portions of the edge of each coin engaged by a thread of each screw, means for rotating the screws to advance the row of coins supported thereby, the space between the screws being such as to permit a row of supported coins to be moved by the screws from the converging toward the diverging end thereof, and to permit diti'erent denominations of the coins to pass between the screws at diti'erent points along the length of the screws, means for selecting successive coins from a mass of indiscrin'iinately mixed coins and for depositing successive coins Selected from the mass, edgewise between the threads of the screws at the converging end portion thereof, and a receiving receptacle for receiving each denomination of the coins thus sorted.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

ROBERT REID. ANDREW S. REID. FRANCIS H. LEONARD. 

